Today I’m sharing 5 places you should check on a regular basis for home decor that you’re probably not thinking of.

Something you may not know about me is that I worked in retail for five years, not including the four years I spent as a teenager behind a cash register. Most recently, I was a “sales associate” for a discount department store. And while serving the public can be an aggravating and exhausting job few people want to keep for the rest of their lives, there were some perks. I got a first view/sneak peak of all the new merchandise (including my favorite stuff: home decor), plus a discount (albeit, somewhat measly) on everything in the store that was already discounted around 50% of what a department store would charge.

What is a discount department store, you may be wondering? A discount department store sells discounted name-brand and designer items such as furniture, home décor, clothing, toys, and much more.

How do they do this, you might also ask? For starters, many of the discount stores’ buyers get super-good deals on overstocked merchandise or things other stores don’t buy as much of. For instance, if a high-end designer has X amount of Y product, a department store like Macy’s may not want to come in and buy the entire amount (X) of the designer’s product (Y). Therefore, buyers from discount stores come in and scoop up the designer’s product (Y) at a discounted price, as the designer would rather sell for less than not sell at all. The discount department store then sells the product (Y) to the public and passes the savings along. That’s one way many of these stores can sell merchandise up to 70% off what high end department stores like Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s would price it at.

There are also some products discount stores get at a better price that have minor defects, such as a pair of Tommy Hilfiger socks that have an incorrect stitching, etc. However, those items are the exception, not the rule. Most items sold at discount department stores are the exact same product you find in higher-end stores. In fact, I’ve seen the same product on the same day at two different stores, one a department store, and one a discount store. It really does happen all the time.

Discount stores are some of the few places I check regularly for home décor. This is because the merchandise that comes through the doors of these stores is only there for a limited amount of time. Discount stores don’t have regular stock like other stores. Because their product depends on what deals their buyers have made, there is always new product coming through the door (nearly daily) and selling out quickly. And because of this, I make it a point to check these stores at least once a week.

Now let’s get to the stores 🙂

 

T.J. Maxx

 

T.J. Maxx’s home décor selection is amazing. They are pretty much the first place I look when I’m on the search for something in particular such as an office chair, farmhouse sign, or shabby chic bedding. I also got a wool rug for my living room from T.J. Maxx because they have the best selection of rugs and their prices are a fraction of what I would have paid at another store. Also, you can buy online and return in-store which makes shopping here a no-brainer.

 

Overstock.com

 

Like the name says, overstock.com is loaded with overstocked items. They sell absolutely everything, and at overstocked prices. Some of my favorite items they sell include light fixtures like this chandelier, kids furniture, and mattresses.

 

HomeGoods

 

HomeGoods, sister store of TJ Maxx, is another discount department store that is just like TJ Maxx, except 100% (like the name says) home goods. They are the place I know I will find what I want for my home and there are no other shiny objects, i.e. clothing, bags, shoes that will distract me (unlike TJ Maxx) from what I really need–hello Rae Dun!

Zulily

 

For years, I thought Zulily only sold personalized items–my husband got me a cute personalized bath mat from there one time, so maybe that’s why. But I was very wrong. Zulily sells all kinds of items. From home decor to clothing, toys, and even subscription boxes, their merchandise is always discounted so you will get an amazing deal every time you shop.

 

Nordstrom Rack

 

Nordstrom Rack is new to me. Although I’ve known about Nordstrom for as long as I can remember knowing about any department store, and I had heard of Nordstrom Rack in the past, for some reason I was thinking it was going to be handbags and clothing, which they do have. However, they also have some seriously chic décor with top-notch brands like Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, and UGG.

If you’re looking for the best of the best home décor at a price you can afford, I recommend regularly checking out these 5 stores.

If you’re into vintage, antique, repurposed, and upcycled furniture and home décor, check out my six part series: 6 Places I Find My Coolest Décor, starting with this post.